Deck 36: Vestibular Disorders

Question 1

In the semicircular canals,the ampulla moves in which direction in relation to head movement?

A) The ampulla moves in the same direction as head movement.
B) The ampulla moves in the opposite direction of head movement.
C) The ampulla remains constant without movement regardless of the movement of the head.
D) The ampulla moves with rotational movement only.

Answer 1

The ampulla moves in the opposite direction of head movement.

Question 2

Which of the following situations would manifest as vertigo?

A) A vestibular nerve on one side of the head has a loss of tonic firing.
B) A vestibular nerve on one side of the head is hyperactive.
C) Vestibular nerves on both sides of the head have a loss of tonic firing.
D) Vestibular nerves on both sides of the head are hyperactive.

Answer 2

A vestibular nerve on one side of the head has a loss of tonic firing.

Question 3

A perilymph fistula is an abnormal communication of what two anatomic areas/structures?

A) inner ear and auditory nerve
B) inner ear and middle ear
C) middle ear and cochlea
D) cochlea and external auditory canal

Answer 3

inner ear and middle ear

Question 4

Stimulation of which part of the canal would provoke the highest level of nausea?

A) vertical canal
B) horizontal canal
C) posterior canal
D) anterior canal

Question 5

If the motor components of the visual-ocular system are damaged,which of the following would be true?

A) Visual and vestibular controlled eye movements would be normal.
B) Visual and vestibular controlled eye movements would be abnormal.
C) Visually controlled eye movements would be normal, but vestibular dependent eye movements would be abnormal.
D) Visually controlled eye movements would be abnormal, but vestibular dependent eye movements would be normal.

Question 6

Calcium carbonate crystals,or otoconia,adhere to which of the below membranes?

A) otolithic membrane
B) basilar membrane
C) tectorial membrane
D) cochlear membrane

Question 7

What is usually the initial symptom of Meniere's syndrome?

A) rotational vertigo
B) sensation of fullness of the ear
C) postural imbalance
D) nystagmus

Question 8

Which of the following is not a symptom of the unilateral vestibular neuronitis?

A) nausea/vomiting
B) rotary vertigo
C) spontaneous horizontal nystagmus
D) pain

Question 9

Which class of movement is defined as holding images steady on the retina during sustained head rotation?

A) vestibular
B) visual fixation
C) optokinetic
D) smooth pursuit

Question 10

Which pathway that receives its signals from the vestibular system is responsible for postural changes in response to angular head motion?

A) medial vestibulospinal tract
B) lateral vestibulospinal tract
C) dorsal horn of the spinal cord
D) reticulospinal tract

Question 11

Primary carcinoma will usually not involve which of the following structures?

A) external auditory canal
B) end organ
C) middle ear
D) mastoid

Question 12

Permanent damage to which cranial nerve can result from malignant external otitis?

A) cranial nerve V
B) cranial nerve VI
C) cranial nerve VII
D) cranial nerve VIII

Question 13

Complaints of "floating or swimming" head could represent which of the following conditions?

A) orthostatic hypotension
B) disruption of the vestibular/somatosensory system
C) unilateral disorder
D) abnormal otolith response

Question 14

What is not a common complaint of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)?

A) Sensation stops after 2-3 minutes in static position
B) Sensation of intense vertigo with head position changes
C) Autonomic changes such as sweating
D) Sensation of movement of the environment and blurred vision

Question 15

What is the primary blood supply to the components of the vestibular system?

A) posterior cerebellar artery
B) inferior cerebellar artery
C) Circle of Willis
D) vertebral basilar artery

Question 16

Which pathway between the vestibular system and the motor system receives the majority of its input from the otoliths in the cerebellum?

A) medial vestibulospinal tract
B) lateral vestibulospinal tract
C) dorsal horn of the spinal cord
D) reticulospinal

Question 17

Which of the following tests is specific to dysfunction of the otolith?

A) vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials
B) electrocochleography
C) posturography
D) rotational chair testing

Question 18

How long does it take the brain to adapt to ipsilateral vestibular nerve tonic firing loss if there is no other pathology present?

A) 6 hours
B) 1 week
C) 2 weeks
D) 3 weeks

Question 19

What is the medial border of the end organ of the vestibular system?

A) middle ear
B) cochlear duct
C) vestibular nerve
D) temporal bone

Question 20

Which of the following head positions will place the posterior canal in the vertical position?

A) The body is prone with the head turned to the side.
B) The body is supine and the head is flexed beyond neutral and rotated 45 degrees to the ipsilateral side.
C) The body is prone and the neck is extended to neutral and rotated 45 degrees to the contralateral side.
D) The body is in supine and the head is extended beyond neutral and rotated 45 degrees to the ipsilateral side.